This honor was awarded through the . The festival, now in its 10th year, is dedicated to recognizing Arkansas authors. For Thurmond, a native Arkansan, the award feels especially meaningful. 

鈥淭o be recognized as an Arkansas writer and to win this award is a really special achievement for me,鈥� Thurmond shared. 

Thurmond described his literary path as deeply connected to his life in Arkansas. From growing up in rural Arkansas and attending UA 糖心视频logo as a Donaghey Scholar, where his mother also taught, to returning home after years of study and travel abroad, his journey came full circle as he now teaches alongside the same professors who once mentored him as a student.

His novel was first selected as a finalist by students in UCA鈥檚 MFA Creative Writing program, then chosen as winner by renowned Arkansas literary figure and attorney Philip H. McMath. Along with the award, Thurmond received a trophy, a $1,500 cash prize, and an invitation to give a public reading and talk about his work and writing process.

鈥淚 had been told by friends that my name, Frank Thurmond, came up as a 19th-century outlaw, and a friend said, 鈥榊ou should write a novel about this namesake,鈥欌�� Thurmond said. 鈥淚 started researching that person, and the only thing he did worthwhile was having married this famous woman, Lottie Deno. I realized the real story was her story, and that led me to researching her and finding out about the incredible story of Lottie Deno.鈥�

The result is Lottie Deno: A Novel of the Civil War and the American Southwest, a historical fiction novel that follows the life and adventures of the legendary gambler during Reconstruction-era Texas. 

鈥淚t was a new experience to have an award like that,鈥� Thurmond reflected. 鈥淚t brought renewed attention to the book and inspired me to keep writing and working on new material.鈥�

In addition to being a writer, Thurmond is also a screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician, teaching across multiple departments.

鈥淚 get to practice what I preach and preach what I practice,鈥� Thurmond said. 

His commitment to sharing his work extends beyond the classroom. Students attend his book launches, readings, and film screenings, further connecting academic study to real-world creative achievement. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to be encouraged by students who express interest in and appreciation for my work. That, in turn, inspires me to keep going,鈥� he said.

Thurmond believes in leading by example, encouraging his students to pursue their dreams with determination. 

鈥淚 always tell them to persevere and give it their best shot,鈥� he said, emphasizing the importance of networking, seeking out opportunities, and maintaining confidence in the face of setbacks. 

The award adds another milestone to Thurmond鈥檚 work as a writer and educator at UA 糖心视频logo, where he continues to balance teaching, creative projects, and an evolving literary career rooted in Arkansas.

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While researching, Thurmond, a faculty member in the Department of English at UA 糖心视频logo, discovered that the most interesting thing about his namesake was actually his wife and decided to focus his novel on her instead.

鈥淚 had been told by friends that my name Frank Thurmond came up as a 19th century outlaw, and a friend said you should write a novel about this namesake,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淚 started researching that person, and the only thing he did worthwhile was having married this famous woman, Lottie Deno. I realized the real story was her story, and that led to me researching her story and finding out about the incredible story of Lottie Deno.鈥�

The result is Thurmond鈥檚 first novel, 鈥�,鈥� a 240-page historical fiction novel published by Parkhurst Brothers Publishers following the adventures of the notorious gambler through Reconstruction-era Texas.

鈥淗er original name was Carlotta Tompkins, a Southern Belle living on a plantation before the Civil War,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淗er family lost their fortune during the Civil War, so she went off and became a legendary gambler. A Mexican gambler said she ought to call herself Lotta Dinero. She came up with her famous handle 鈥楲ottie Deno鈥� from that.鈥�

Thurmond has seen a lot of travel while promoting his book. He鈥檚 already done multiple signings in Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi. This summer he鈥檒l head out on a road trip for events in New Mexico and California. He鈥檒l next appear at Blytheville Book Company at 10:30 a.m. on May 4 and Weber鈥檚 Book House in his hometown of Paragould at 1:30 p.m. on May 4.

Thurmond has been able to use his writing to inspire his students and vice versa.

鈥淚 was teaching a screenwriting class two years ago while I was finishing the novel,鈥� Thurmond explained. 鈥淢y students said that they wanted to see a screenplay for the novel and encouraged me to write it that semester. That was a wonderful opportunity where my students equally inspired me and encouraged me to get that work done. Thanks to my students鈥� encouragement and prodding, I finished it at the end of the semester and had a table reading. My students were the first to experience the screenplay format of my novel. It was a great way to test out the story, and I benefited greatly from having a group of enthusiastic students who inspired me. Many of my students are creative writers, and it鈥檚 nice to practice what I preach and preach what I practice.鈥�

Thurmond said there has already been interest in producing his novel as a miniseries or a film.

鈥淭he Western has become popular again in recent years, and mine is rare because it has a female protagonist set in the Old West,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had filmmakers interested in the potential of having such a unique, real-life Western. I鈥檓 working with some potential film investors to get this going. It鈥檚 always a long shot. I am a filmmaker, and I’ve made some short films screened at film festivals. This would be my first shot at developing a longer film project. I鈥檓 just excited about having my first novel published.鈥�

The novel started out as a pandemic project, along with a collection of poetry that was published as a poetry chapbook last year. Much of the novel is set in Fort Griffin, Texas, a frontier town that 鈥渕akes Tombstone look tame.鈥� Readers will see appearances from some famous Old West names in the novel, including John Henry 鈥淒oc鈥� Holliday and Wyatt Earp.

Thurmond completed extensive research for his novel, even traveling to New Mexico, the final resting place of Lottie Deno, then going by the name of Charlotte Thurmond, and her husband, Thurmond鈥檚 namesake.

鈥淚鈥檓 currently writing a memoir/travelog, including some travel I did to research this book, which led to some interesting adventures in itself,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淭he heart of the story is set in frontier era Texas, where there was a string of military forts right after the Civil War. Most are preserved as state parks, and I was able to visit the old ghost town of Fort Griffin, where most of my story is set. It鈥檚 privately owned by a Texas rancher, and he invited me to view this place. I completed my research out of New Mexico, where the characters are buried in a cemetery in Deming, New Mexico. It turns out that my 19th century namesake who inspired the initial idea for my novel is an actual real-life ancestor of my Thurmond family. They even have artifacts associated with my character in the local museum.鈥�

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The film, 鈥淭he Forms of Things Unknown,鈥� was written by Frank Thurmond, a faculty member in the Department of English at UA 糖心视频logo, and directed by Dylan Pojar-Weatherly, a former student of Thurmond’s who graduated from UA 糖心视频logo in 2022 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mass communication.

鈥淔or me, it was an opportunity to work with a student whose filmmaking I really admired and who I knew understood the subject matter,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淎t the same time, I鈥檓 gratified to give Dylan a chance to showcase more of his work. I hope this will propel his career forward. That is ultimately what it鈥檚 all about as a teacher. You want to inspire students to develop their craft and help them move forward in their career.鈥�

The 10-minute film will debut during the Made in Arkansas Film Festival. It will be shown at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Ron Robinson Theatre. for the film festival are $20.

鈥淚 am really proud of the piece,鈥� Pojar-Weatherly said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very genuine story, and it鈥檚 definitely different from other projects I鈥檝e worked on before.鈥�

The collaboration between Thurmond and Pojar-Weatherly started during the spring 2022 semester. Pojar-Weatherly, then a senior at UA 糖心视频logo, was taking Thurmond鈥檚 screenwriting class when he asked his professor if he would share some of his own screenplays with the class.

鈥淚t meant a lot to me that Dylan was curious about my work,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淚 brought in a script for a short film about my experience with my late mother, who had Alzheimer鈥檚. The reason I came back to Arkansas in 2009 was to care for her.鈥�

Pojar-Weatherly felt an immediate connection with Thurmond鈥檚 script. At the time, he was working on his capstone project, a short film called 鈥溾�� that highlights a daughter struggling to care for her father who has Alzheimer鈥檚. This film also premiered during the Made in Arkansas Film Festival in 2023.

鈥淚 remember reading the script for the first time, and I remember connecting with the script right away,鈥� Pojar-Weatherly said. 鈥淚 was honored that Mr. Thurmond asked me to be a part of the project. Alzheimer鈥檚 is something I am familiar with through my grandparents.鈥�

The film, which was filmed in the UA 糖心视频logo School of Nursing鈥檚 Center for Simulation Innovation, delves into the emotional journey of Thurmond鈥檚 final conversation with his mother, capturing the poignant moments of connection and reflection amidst the shadows of the terrible disease.

鈥淭he way that Dylan shot the film and the way the actors brought the story to life captures my final moments with my mother on her deathbed,鈥� Thurmond said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an overwhelmingly emotional experience for me. The theme of it is so universal. So many people have some connection with Alzheimer鈥檚, dementia, and caregiving. It鈥檚 something that many audience members will relate to.鈥�

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